History of wireless telegraphy and broadcasting in Australia/Topical/Publications/Australasian Radio World/Issues/1949 09

P.01 - Front Cover

The Australasian Radio World

Registered in Australia for transmission by post as a periodical.

1/6

Vol. 14 - No. 4; SEPTEMBER, 1949

P.03 - Contents Banner

THE AUSTRALASIAN RADIO WORLD

Devoted entirely to Technical Radio

and incorporating

ALL-WAVE ALL-WORLD DX NEWS

VOL. 14. - SEPTEMBER, 1949. - Nos. 4.

P.03 - Publication Notes

Published by the Proprietor — A. G. HULL, Balcombe St., Mornington, Vic. Phone: M'ton 344.

Short-wave Editor — L. J. KEAST, 7 Fitzgerald Rd., Ermington, N.S.W. Phone: WL1101

Advertising Representative —

Stephen H. Farrell, 74 Pitt St., Sydney. 'Phone: BL2260

Representatives —

In Queensland: John Bristoe, Box 82, Maryborough, Q.

In New Zealand: H. Barnes & Co., 4 Boulcott Terrace, Wellington & S.O.S. Radio Ltd., 283 Queen St., Auckland

In England: Anglo Overseas Press Ltd., 168 Regent St., London, W.1.

Distributed throughout the World by Gordon & Gotch (A/asia) Ltd.

Subscription Rates: 12 issues - 16/-; 24 issues - 30/-; To N.Z. and Overseas - 12 issues, 18/-; Post free

Address for all correspondence - Australasian Radio World, Box 13, Mornington, Vic.

Printed by "Post" Newspapers Pty. Ltd., Mornington, for the Proprietor of the Australasian Radio World, A. G. Hull, Balcombe St., Mornington, Victoria (Footnote P.44)

P.03 - Contents

CONTENTS

Universal Speaker Input Unit . . . . 5

Effective Valve Checker . . . . 9

Versatile Amplifier Design . . . . 11

Electronic Voltmeter . . . . 15

Pre-Amps for Talkie Work . . . . 19

Alternating Currents . . . . 21

Research Workers Needed . . . . 27

Moisture Control for Textiles . . . . 30

Revolution in America . . . . 31

Distortion — Does it Matter? . . . . 34

Electronic Music . . . . 37

World of Radio . . . . 38

Short Wave Review . . . . 39

Speedy Query Service . . . . 42

P.03 - Editorial

EDITORIAL

A GREAT many of our readers are not lily-white amateurs. Radio parts are expensive, experience costs money, and few can afford to pursue radio as a non-paying hobby. Little of the true interest in radio need be lost by those who combine some business with their play, accepting commissions to build sets to order for those who want something special, or doing repairs and modifications to existing receivers. Judging from some letters received it appears that quite a few get badly "stung" when they set out to do work of this kind. It is quite easy to over-rate one's knowledge, for a start. It seems so simple to glance over the constructional article on a powerful receiver and feel confident that you can easily build it up in a matter of a few hours. In practice it is not quite so simple, unless you are prepared to work for a few pence per hour for your time. It is not every set which goes to perfection as soon as it is finished. The smallest error in the wiring, or a minor fault in almost any component, can give you trouble which may take hours of exasperating work to find and rectify. Getting the parts together may take hours of shopping. Installation and service are both time-eating jobs of work. It is hard to give figures that will cover every type of job, but I would say that to build a set to order is worth at least £5 above the cost of the parts; more in the case of a set having special features or a lot of parts in it. To make it anything like a good business proposition the figure would be nearer a tenner in most cases. Repairs, of course, should be handled on a basis calculated at the price of the parts, plus a handling margin, plus the cost of time, at so much per hour. — A. G. HULL.